Arista opens Manchester office

Arista Insurance, the commercial lines underwriting operation, is planning significant expansion into the north of England in 2008 starting with the opening of an office in Manchester this month.

The office will be lead by recently-appointed regional manager Paul Dooley, who joins from Chubb.

Arista’s chief executive officer Charles Earle said: “This is a significant step in our expansion across the UK and I know that with Paul’s experience and Arista’s reputation our impact will be hard and fast. Our regional managers are the lifeblood of the organisation, responsible for establishing Arista in a new territory, recruiting the best staff, generating meaningful relationships with brokers and contributing to Arista's ambitious targets. I have every confidence in Paul’s credentials and his track record in this region.”
Arista has already opened offices across the south of England, including Southampton, Bristol and Redhill. “The broker relationships in the south have developed at such a pace that we are now looking north with a spring in our step,” Mr Earle added.

Dooley began his insurance career in 1986 working for a small insurance broker in Wigan and moved on to an 11-year career with Eagle Star in Manchester. He joined Chubb in 1998 to help drive the construction and special property business forward throughout the UK regions. He then moved into the role of head of commercial new business for Chubb in Manchester and since 2004 has been the branch manager of the Manchester operation.

Dooley said: “I’ve had some very valuable experience in my 21 years in insurance and my passion for professionalism and first class service will now continue with the fresh, exciting opportunity of establishing the Arista Insurance brand in the North of England and building a team that really personifies service and underwriting excellence.”